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Acoustic cab help

The boa

The boa

Nov 12, 2016
200
256
Maryland
#1
ok guys, I'm hoping someone here can help me out, as my own research has come up short. I have been playing through an earlier acoustic 4x12 bass cab for many years. I love the sound, but one of the speakers finally crapped out on me. When I got this thing it was already road worn to say the least, and I have embarked on a quest to restore it to its former glory!

Only one speaker has gone bad, the metal I shaped piece on the back broke one of the solder joints. I have been trying to find a replacement for it but can't figure out what model to get. I considered replacing them all but fear it would change the tone away from what I love about it.

For reference, this is the same amp. Mine is stripped down and ready for fresh tolex.
Vintage Acoustic 4x12 Bass Cabinet

I have all the original hardware, but need to replace (or repair if that's even possible?) the bad speaker, find new piping for around the grille cloth (it's not standard bead, it had a small flair, for lack of a better term, that hugged the box itself.)

Anyone familiar with these? I can post a pic of the broken speaker when I get home.

Also I know I'll spend more fixing this than the cab is worth, but I have played shows in every band with this thing for over a decade. The sentimental value to me is worth it.
 
#2
The only way to replace a driver without changing how it sounds is to match up the driver T/S specs and response. With a speaker that old it may not be possible to get the specs and response data. Someone with the tools and skills could measure the specs and response, but finding someone with the tools and skills probably wouldn't be easy. You could try DIY speaker forums.
 
#3
I found someone local to me, a TV repair shop that said they would take a crack at fixing the broken driver. If it works then great, if not I'm no worse off than I am now.

I was always a plug and play type of guy until recently. My gear choices were based on cost, and I figured I can just get the best tone I can. I fell ass backwards into this cabinet, and now I'm hooked on the tone.

If I can't get this driver repaired, my backup plan is to drop a set of 4 celestion bl-12 200x speakers in there and see what happens. These cans are around and I might just luck in to another that I can salvage if I keep my eyes open.
 
#5
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Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out. Upon digging that speaker out I noticed the cone has a tear in it anyway, so I guess a new speaker is in order. I don't mind trying to hunt down an old one, but I just don't know what brand/model it is. I have attached some pictures of the bad speaker, along with the serial number of the cabinet. I don't know what model the cabinet is, though I have tried to look it up.

Anyone have an acoustic cab identification by serial number chart?
 
#8
Small update. After a thorough googling for repair of all kinds, I finally found a retired speaker repairman that does work on the side near me. He is pretty confident that my bad speaker can be repaired! I also found the piping I need buried deep in the unofficial acoustic message board.

Now all I need is to find a source for hardware that matches! I need name plate, corners, feet, and foot cups. I have all the original stuff, and if I can't find new stuff I'll just try to clean the old stuff up as best as I can, though it's pretty oxidized.
 
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#11
The code 677132 says it's an Eminence produced in the 32nd week of 1971. That's long before Eminence started using T/S specs or even publishing data sheets, so that's a dead end. You can look at the Eminence site at guitar drivers with Alnico magnets, the one with the longest xmax is probably as close as you'll get to what you have.
 
#14
i know this is thread necromancy but i ended up in a similar situation last summer. I've replaced the stock speakers so i have the three still working speakers s(one i just checked 67-7112 12th week 1971)a while i get things ready to recone. if you're still looking for the stock driver maybe we can swap your broken one for my working one?
 

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